DSWT Anti-Poaching Report August 2014

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

ANTI-POACHING UNITS MONTHLY REPORT

AUGUST 2014

August 2014

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

August 2014

AUGUST 2014 MONTHLY SUMMARY: ALL UNITS TOTAL SNARES COLLECTED: TOTAL ARRESTS MADE: TOTAL WEAPON/EQUIPMENT CONFISCATIONS: TOTAL ILLEGAL STRUCTURES DESTROYED:

596 54 81 25

The month of August saw the introduction of a new mobile anti-poaching team established by the DSWT in partnership with the Kenya Wildlife Service. This new team, known as the Yatta Unit, is totally mobile and can be deployed to anywhere in Kenya which is most in need of anti-poaching support. Currently the team is based in Meru National Park after a request from the KWS to assist in dealing with a dramatic increase in poaching in the area. As might be expected, this new team had a busy month, with the arrest of 8 poachers, all carrying poisoned arrows totalling 55. They also collected 111 snares and confiscated an additional 152 snares which the poachers were yet to set-up in the bush, making a total of 263 snares.

In Tsavo the teams were also faced with a sharp increase in poaching as the landscape continues to dry out and wildlife is forced to congregate into smaller and smaller areas. A combination of this and the increased visibility of elephants at publicly viewed waterholes also meant a large number of veterinary cases were attended to by the DSWT’s Mobile Veterinary and Sky Vet Units assisted by the anti-poaching ground teams. The majority of arrests were for charcoal burning; however six ivory poachers and eight bush meat poachers were also captured and arrested in Tsavo throughout the course of the month.

MAP OF ALL UNIT’S PATROL ROUTES

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

August 2014

DAILY SITUATION REPORT MONTHLY SUMMARY – AUGUST 2014 Ndovu Duma Chui (Ithumba) (Chyulu) (Mtito)

Snares recovered during patrol

Snares confiscated from poachers

Arrests

Confiscations weapons

Confiscations tools/equipmen t

Confiscations Cooking items

Animal DNA

Destroyed

Human sign

Rescues

Small Medium Large Cable Rope Rope with pit Small Medium Large Cable Rope Bushmeat poacher Livestock Livestock minors (instances) Trespassing Ivory poacher Fishing Charcoal Honey harvesting Logging Growing/harvesting marijuana Woodcarving Growing/harvesting Mirraa Panga Bow Rifle Poison arrow Knife Sack of poison Arrow Catapult Spear Jembe Spades Torch Lamp Hand cart Saw Bird trap Axe Fish Trap Rope Wire Carvings Charcoal sacks Motorcycle Bicycle Jerry can Cooking utensils (instances) Food Bushmeat (kg) Dik Dik Carcass Kudu Spotted Hyena Carcass Buffalo Carcass Elephant Carcass waterbuck carcass Ivory (# tusks) Elephant tail Giraffe Tail Giraffe Carcass Rhino Leopard skin Bushbuck carcass Yellow-necked spurfowl Guinea fowl Shooting blind Manyatta Charcoal kiln Shooting platform Poacher's hideout Footprints Logging Bicycle tracks Wood carving Charcoal burning activity Mining Activity Campfire Livestock with no herders (# instances) Miraa harvesting Dikdik Kudu Impala Zebra Elephant Giraffe Rhino Buffalo

77

7

Meru 10 96 5

Faru Mamba (Burra) (Kenze) 33 10

Nyati (Tiva) 134 14 2

Simba Sub(Ziwani) total Total 7 8 9

1

23 124 5

2

54 124 5

31

3 2

3 1

8 3 1 2 14

3

18

1 2 6 11

8

4

4

4

2 2 2 4

2 2 2 1

1 1 7

3

55 2 1 7

55 1

2

2

1

1

5

5

2

2

1 2 15 5

1 2 15 5

1

2

1

2

2

1

1 1

1

1

1

3

4

1 3

1

2

9

5

5 1

3

20 1 10 2

1 5 1

268 128 16 1

1

4

3

3

1

1 1

2 1

413

183

54

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

August 2014

TOTAL SNARES COLLECTED - August 2014 - All Teams

TOTAL ARRESTS MADE - August 2014 - All Teams

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

INDIVIDUAL TEAM REPORTS AUGUST 2014

August 2014

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

AUGUST 2014 BURRA TEAM PATROL AREA: Southern sector of Tsavo East NP & the Taita Ranches

MAP OF MONTHLY PATROL ROUTES

August 2014

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August 2014

SECURITY & INCIDENTS LIVESTOCK INTRUSION 3/08/14

The team removed a herd of goats who had been led illegally into the park to graze

CHARCOAL BURNING 9/08/14

The team uncovered illegal charcoal burning & cutting down of trees within the Mbulia area

LIFTING SNARES 9/08/14

The Faru (Burra) lifted a number of small wire snares from the Mbulia area

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

August 2014

POACHER’S HIDE 9/08/14

A recently used poacher’s hide was discovered at Mbulia and destroyed to prevent further activity

SNARED HARE 12/08/14

A snared hare was luckily found and released having been found near the Tsavo River

ELEPHANT CARCASS 15/08/14

The Burra team found an old elephant carcass on their routine patrols.

The tusks were already missing

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SEARCHING FOR AN INJURED ELEPHANT 30/08/14

August 2014

The Burra team leader went with the DSWT pilot to search for an injured elephant which had been sighted

BURRA UNIT MONTHLY DATA MAP

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August 2014

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

August 2014

AUGUST 2014 CHYULU TEAM PATROL AREA: Chyulu National Park, Kibwezi Forest and surrounding communities

MAP OF MONTHLY PATROL ROUTES

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

August 2014

SECURITY & INCIDENTS CHARCOAL BURNING 8/08/14

Large scale charcoal burning has been taking place within the Chyulu Hills NP & the Chyulu team have been working hard to stop all activities

LOGGING ACTIVITIES 9/08/14

Alongside charcoal burning activities the team have been uncovering significant logging within the Park

CHARCOAL BURNERS 18/08/14

The Duma (Chyulu) team arrested four men in the Park who were caught working on charcoal kilns and transporting charcoal on donkeys

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

LIVESTOCK INTRUSION 25/02/14

August 2014

The Duma (Chyulu) team found livestock grazing in the Park and pushed it out into bordering community land

CHYULU UNIT MONTHLY DATA MAP

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

August 2014

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

AUGUST 2014 KENZE TEAM PATROL AREA: Kibwezi Forest and surrounding communities

MAP OF MONTHLY PATROL ROUTES

August 2014

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August 2014

SECURITY & INCIDENTS STOLEN PROPERTY 14/08/14

A gate was stolen from the Kibwezi Forest fence-line and the Kenze team arranged a community meeting to issue a warning and find the culprit

PATROLLING PIPELINE 5/08/14

The Kenze team patrolled the Kibwezi pipeline area sighting healthy wildlife numbers

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

August 2014

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

August 2014

AUGUST 2014 TIVA TEAM PATROL AREA: Northern sector of Tsavo East NP with a focus along the Tiva River

MAP OF ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

August 2014

SECURITY & INCIDENTS CHARCOAL BURNING 6/08/14

The Nyati (Tiva) team found a fresh charcoal kiln at Mukomwe and destroyed it

POACHERS CAMP 9/08/14

The team found the fresh remnants of a fire made by poachers when camping in the Park

CHARCOAL BURNERS 15/08/14

Several charcoal burners were arrested from the Gazi area in northern Tsavo East where charcoal burning has been rife

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

August 2014

POACHERS CAMP 15/08/14

The Nyati (Tiva) team found a recently used poacher’s camp in a cave in the northern area along the Yatta Plateau

BIRD TRAP 21/08/14

A guinea-fowl was found snared in a bird trap set to capture birds. The team destroyed the trap

LIFTING SNARES 22/08/14

Several small and medium wire snares were lifted from the Gaze area, which were set to catch small game

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

TIVA UNIT MONTHLY DATA MAP

August 2014

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August 2014

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AUGUST 2014 ZIWANI TEAM PATROL AREA: Central sector of Tsavo West NP south of the Tsavo River

MAP OF MONTHLY PATROL ROUTES

August 2014

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

August 2014

SECURITY & INCIDENTS CHARCOAL BURNING 2/08/14

Charcoal kilns were found and destroyed within the Kishushe area, where there are high levels of charcoal burning

LIFTING SNARES 8/08/14

The team lifted a number of large cables targeting large game within the Taita Hills wildlife sanctuary

ILLEGAL LOGGING 10/08/14

The team found significant signs of illegal logging and charcoal burning, where culprits had been lighting fires to fell trees

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

August 2014

INJURED ELEPHANT 10/08/2014

The Ziwani team worked with the Tsavo Veterinary Unit to dart and treat an injured elephant

EXCAVATED MINES 11/08/14

The team discovered holes of crude excavated mines at Oza ranch, where miners have attempted to illegally uncover gemstones

MINING TRENCHES 11/08/14

The team found a number of illegal trenches excavated by miners within the protected areas in search of gemstones

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

RESCUED GOAT 12/08/2014

August 2014

The Simba (Ziwani) team rescued a goat from a female cheetah with its two cubs as it had taken the goat from a community herder

ZIWANI UNIT MONTHLY DATA MAP

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

August 2014

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

August 2014

AUGUST 2014 MTITO TEAM PATROL AREA: Tsavo Triangle, northern sector of Tsavo West NP & surrounding communities

MAP OF MONTHLY PATROL ROUTES

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

August 2014

SECURITY & INCIDENTS POACHED ELEPHANT 6/08/14

The Chui (Mtito) found a freshly poached elephant, the tusks were still intact and were removed to be handed over to KWS

POACHER ARRESTED 7/08/14

The team captured and arrest a known poacher operating along the Athi River

POACHERS ARRESTED 8/08/14

The Chui (Mtito) team captured another three poachers operating along the Athi River

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

August 2014

SHOOTING BLIND 10/08/14

The Mtito team destroyed a recently constructed shooting blind along Athi river, which had been built to target elephants at the water hole

LIFTING SNARES 16/08/14

The team lifted a cable snare set in the Mangelete area for large game and elephants

FIRE FIGHTING 18/08/14

The Mtito team were firefighting within the Kenani area. This fire was set under unknown circumstances

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

August 2014

POACHER ARRESTED 19/08/14

The Mtito team arrested an elephant poacher from Kitui area who was caught with poisoned arrows

BUSHMEAT POACHER 21/08/14

The Mtito team captured and arrested a bushmeat poacher who had already caught a number of small antelopes

WOODCARVER 24/08/14

A man arrested with wood carvings at Nthunguni area, he had been logging and carving within the Park

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

ILLEGAL LOGGING 29/08/14

August 2014

A bicycle was found in the Park abandoned near piles of logs illegally cut to be sold as firewood.

MTITO UNIT MONTHLY DATA MAP

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

August 2014

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

August 2014

AUGUST 2014 ITHUMBA TEAM PATROL AREA: Northern sector of Tsavo East NP, northern boundary & Gazi

MAP OF ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

August 2014

SECURITY & INCIDENTS PATROLLING 10/08/14

The team spent several days desnaring and patrolling the kyaerock area, which is a hotspot for bush-meat and ivory poaching

ELEPHANT TREATMENT 14/08/14

The Ndovu (Ithumba) unit supported the Tsavo Vet unit darting and treating an injured elephant near the new ithumba camp

SHOOTING PLATFORM 15/08/14

The Ithumba team destroyed a shooting hideout found in the Roka area, set to target elephants

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

August 2014

ELEPHANT CARCASS 21/08/14

The Ndovu (Ithumba) team found a 2 week old elephant carcass within the Roka area, its tusks were already taken by a poacher

ELEPHANT TREATMENT 21/08/14

The team worked with the DSWT helicopter and Tsavo Vet Unit in treating an injured elephant with an arrow wound in the Roka area

SHOOTING BLIND 26/08/14

A shooting blind was found within the Machokombo area and destroyed so it couldn’t be used to target elephants

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

LEOPARD TRAPS 29/08/14

August 2014

Leopard traps and other poaching apparatus were dropped by escaping poachers operating in the Umbi area

ITHUMBA UNIT MONTHLY DATA MAP

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

August 2014

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

August 2014

AUGUST 2014 YATTA MOBILE TEAM (Meru National Park) PATROL AREA: This is a mobile anti-poaching team currently operating in Meru and the northern and eastern conservation area

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

August 2014

SECURITY & INCIDENTS NEW TEAM 8/08/2014

The new Yatta team was deployed to its first location in Meru National Park to support the KWS Unit there with anti-poaching patrols

CHARCOAL KILN 9/08/14

The team found and destroyed a charcoal kiln at the mk10 area in Meru National Park

POACHERS HIDE 9/08/14

A fresh poacher's hideout was found and destroyed by the Yatta team at mk10, constructed to target elephants

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

August 2014

SNARED BUSHBUCK 9/08/14

A snared bushbuck carcass was discovered at the mk10 area within Meru National Park, the snared was confiscated.

LIFTING SNARES 9/08/14

The team confiscated a large number of snares and poaching equipment from the mk10 area

SNARED GIRAFFE 11/08/14

The team supported the DSWT’s vet unit in Meru with darting and treating a giraffe with a snare wound

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

August 2014

POACHERS ARRESTED 11/08/14

Three poachers were arrested with poisoned arrows and bush meat in Meru National Park

POACHER ARRESTED 12/08/14

The team arrested a poacher with poisoned arrows and snares at mk10, hunting elephants and bush-meat

POACHER ARRESTED 13/08/14

A poacher was arrested with poisoned arrows and cooking utensils within the Park

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

August 2014

POACHER ARRESTED 14/08/14

A poacher was arrested with poisoned arrows and bushmeat at s having been camping and operating in the Park for some time

SNARED DIKDIK 18/08/14

A snared dikdik carcass was found in the Kimongoro area, sadly too late to be rescued. The snare was removed

POACHER ARRESTED 18/08/14

A poacher was arrested with poisoned arrows, bushmeat and snares operating within the Park

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

August 2014

SNARED GIRAFFE 21/08/14

The team found an old giraffe carcass still caught in a snare placed within the Park

SNARED HYENA 21/08/14

The team discovered a snared hyena in the Park, which had been snared a couple of weeks previously and died

POACHERS ARRESTED 21/08/14

The team arrested two poachers at Kielu in the Park with lots of snares and poisoned arrows

DAVID SHELDRICK WILDLIFE TRUST

August 2014